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10-06-2009, 1:41 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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Thanks: Gave 2, Got 0 | I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
Hello.
This is my first post. I have searched and read several threads but decided to post a new one as my question is quite specific.
I have been using a Panasonic Lumix to record home audio/video recordings of myself and my family playing guitar and singing. The quality (sound especially) is not good, I can't edit them (on Movie Maker) and I want to be able to make better quality recordings.
I have a Dell Vostro 400 running 32 bit Vista Ultimate. I do not have a firewire connection. I have been loaned a Sony Digital Handycam model DCR-TRV245E. The person that loaned it to me does not have the CD-ROM with the software.
My questions are:
1] What must I do / what must I buy to be able to use the camcorder to record and transfer recordings to my PC (and from there to YouTube)?
2] Is the audio quality going to be better than on my Panasonic Lumix?
3] Should I invest in a different camcorder with facility to plug in one or more external microphones?
4] If so, which camcorders have this facility (budget no more than about £400)?
Many thanks.
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10-06-2009, 1:45 PM
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#2 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kirkby In Ashfield
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Thanks: Gave 41, Got 95 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
Why can't you edit in movie maker?
I added a firewire to my desktop, search ebay for firewire PCI card, they're available for less than £10
__________________ Panasonic 42PX70,Yamaha RXV1700 Receiver, PS3+External 350Gb HDD, SkyHD ,DIY Monolithish Sub, Epos M8 centre, Mission M74 fronts, Tannoy 603II rears, Harmony 785 remote, Cowon D2, Canon 40D + lenses and stuff.....Hoover Hoover,
Last edited by drivinscool; 10-06-2009 at 1:49 PM.
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10-06-2009, 2:07 PM
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#3 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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Thanks: Gave 2, Got 0 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
Thanks. Quote:
Originally Posted by drivinscool Why can't you edit in movie maker? | Something about the way Panasonic video saves as a .mov file that Movie Maker doesn't like! Quote:
Originally Posted by drivinscool I added a firewire to my desktop, search ebay for firewire PCI card, they're available for less than £10 | That's cheap to buy - is it easy to install? - I am not skilled or confident at PC DIY.
Also, would I still require the CD-ROM with firewire installed?
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10-06-2009, 2:14 PM
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#4 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kirkby In Ashfield
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Thanks: Gave 41, Got 95 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube Quote:
Originally Posted by chaucer73 Thanks.
Something about the way Panasonic video saves as a .mov file that Movie Maker doesn't like!
That's cheap to buy - is it easy to install? - I am not skilled or confident at PC DIY.
Also, would I still require the CD-ROM with firewire installed? | I just plugged it into a spare pci slot and windows did the rest for me when I booted the PC up.
Dead easy
Don't know what to say about the .mov issue though. With firewire installed I plugged my camera into the port and movie maker did the capture by default. That's with a Mini DV camera though.
Didn't you get any editing software with the camera?
__________________ Panasonic 42PX70,Yamaha RXV1700 Receiver, PS3+External 350Gb HDD, SkyHD ,DIY Monolithish Sub, Epos M8 centre, Mission M74 fronts, Tannoy 603II rears, Harmony 785 remote, Cowon D2, Canon 40D + lenses and stuff.....Hoover Hoover, |
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10-06-2009, 2:37 PM
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#5 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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Thanks: Gave 2, Got 0 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube Quote:
Originally Posted by drivinscool I just plugged it into a spare pci slot and windows did the rest for me when I booted the PC up.
Dead easy  | plugged it in like you plug in a cable? ... or did you have to get inside the PC (that's what scares me) Quote:
Originally Posted by drivinscool Don't know what to say about the .mov issue though. | that's just with my digital camera ... haven't got the camcorder connected to PC at all yet Quote:
Originally Posted by drivinscool Didn't you get any editing software with the camera? | all software for the camcorder is on the missing CD-ROM ... Sony have quoted £40 to replace it
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10-06-2009, 3:21 PM
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#6 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kirkby In Ashfield
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Thanks: Gave 41, Got 95 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube Quote:
Originally Posted by chaucer73 plugged it in like you plug in a cable? ... or did you have to get inside the PC (that's what scares me)
that's just with my digital camera ... haven't got the camcorder connected to PC at all yet
all software for the camcorder is on the missing CD-ROM ... Sony have quoted £40 to replace it | Don't be afraid of going into the PC. Power it down and unplug itfrom the mains. Then press the power button on the front of the pc. This will make the pc try to start, using the charge built up in the transformer.
Then you just undo the screws slot the card into place and put it back together again.
Loads of poeple build their own PC's so don't be too scared of the internals.
I don't suppose that software is available to download from the sony website under customer/product support??
__________________ Panasonic 42PX70,Yamaha RXV1700 Receiver, PS3+External 350Gb HDD, SkyHD ,DIY Monolithish Sub, Epos M8 centre, Mission M74 fronts, Tannoy 603II rears, Harmony 785 remote, Cowon D2, Canon 40D + lenses and stuff.....Hoover Hoover, |
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10-06-2009, 3:26 PM
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#7 (permalink)
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Thanks: Gave 2, Got 0 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
No - it seems like a money making thing from Sony !
If I put a firewire in will I be able to either stream and / or transfer video recordings to my PC then?
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10-06-2009, 3:35 PM
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#8 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Edinburgh
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Thanks: Gave 31, Got 245 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
FireWire is for transferring video from tape-based camcorders like the TRV245 you've been lent. I can't see that you'd need the Sony software. Movie Maker should allow you to import and edit video from the TRV245 once you've installed a FireWire card.
As for the audio being better on the Sony, you'll just have to try and see. Make sure that you set audio recording to 16-bit (check the menu) otherwise you may have synchronising problems when you transfer the video to your PC. External microphones, even relatively inexpensive ones, are almost always better than built-in mics: you can get closer to your subject for one thing.
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10-06-2009, 3:37 PM
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#9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kirkby In Ashfield
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Thanks: Gave 41, Got 95 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube Quote:
Originally Posted by chaucer73 No - it seems like a money making thing from Sony !
If I put a firewire in will I be able to either stream and / or transfer video recordings to my PC then? | Exactly, and you get an uncompressed master copy to your PC, takes up a lot of space though, like 20Gb per tape.
Windows will recognise the video camera when connected with firewire so it's a relatively simple process.
That's about the limit of my knowledge on the subjet though so..........
Good luck mate
__________________ Panasonic 42PX70,Yamaha RXV1700 Receiver, PS3+External 350Gb HDD, SkyHD ,DIY Monolithish Sub, Epos M8 centre, Mission M74 fronts, Tannoy 603II rears, Harmony 785 remote, Cowon D2, Canon 40D + lenses and stuff.....Hoover Hoover, |
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10-06-2009, 5:33 PM
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#10 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jun 2009
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Thanks: Gave 2, Got 0 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube
Thanks so much.
So, if I've got this right ... I can install (cheaply and easily) a firewire connection. A firewire cable between this and the Sony camcorder will allow Windows to recognise the new hardware. I can then use the camcorder to record audio / video whilst it is attached. The recording will be saved to my PC's hard drive. Is that all correct?
Additional - will this still work as a means of transferring if I record something on the camcorder when it is not attached to the PC at the time of recording?
Thanks |
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10-06-2009, 6:02 PM
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#11 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Kirkby In Ashfield
Posts: 822
Thanks: Gave 41, Got 95 | Re: I want to record videos of guitar playing / singing and upload them to YouTube Quote:
Originally Posted by chaucer73 Thanks so much.
So, if I've got this right ... I can install (cheaply and easily) a firewire connection. A firewire cable between this and the Sony camcorder will allow Windows to recognise the new hardware. I can then use the camcorder to record audio / video whilst it is attached. The recording will be saved to my PC's hard drive. Is that all correct?
Additional - will this still work as a means of transferring if I record something on the camcorder when it is not attached to the PC at the time of recording?
Thanks  | Never tried that. Would possibly work though.
I only use it for transfering recorded material to the PC.
Yes , you just connect the camera and switch it on.
__________________ Panasonic 42PX70,Yamaha RXV1700 Receiver, PS3+External 350Gb HDD, SkyHD ,DIY Monolithish Sub, Epos M8 centre, Mission M74 fronts, Tannoy 603II rears, Harmony 785 remote, Cowon D2, Canon 40D + lenses and stuff.....Hoover Hoover, |
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